ON YOUR SIDE ALERT: BBB warns about change of address website

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -

If you're preparing to move, there is a warning you need to know about from the Better Business Bureau. The consumer organization says be on the lookout for websites offering change of address services.

A quick search of the web for changing your address will produce thousands of results. Not all may be what you are looking for. The BBB says complaints about one company in particular are causing concern; Change-my-address.com.

The service the company offers is not illegal. It's a website that calls itself a "concierge moving service,"charging $19.95 to cover at least eight services, including address changes, and help finding movers and packing materials. However, the BBB says the site is misleading and confusing, using the initials for the United States Post Office, in it's search results.

"Folks thought they were going to the postal service and in fact they were going to this company. Their accounts or credit cards were charged, but the work didn't happen," explained Tom Gallagher with the Richmond BBB.

The complaints submitted to the BBB range from advertising to issues with billing and collection. There were at least 120 complaints in the last year. The Ohio-based company has an "F" rating with the BBB.

"These vendors are third parties, there is no affiliation, so they are basically just offering service to the public," said Postal Inspector, Michael Romano of similar websites. He says to keep in mind if you go the Post Office to change your address it's free. If you fill out the form online, through the postal service's website, it's only a dollar.

"The terms I like to put it in is that you can wash your car at home or you can go and pay to have your car detailed," Romano says.

We reached out to the company through email and phone and never got a response. On it's website, change-my-address.com does mention it is a private company and not affiliated with the United States Postal Service. We also reached out to Google about the search results, it says it doesn't comment on Ads or advertisers.